Wheeled invalid chair



Feb. 6, 1945. T. R. GRADY 2,369,040

WHEELED INVALID CHAIR Filed Apri'ljzo, 1943 sheets-sheet 1 www Feb. 6, `1945. T. R GRADYl 2,369,040

WHEELED INVALID CHAIRr Filed April 20, 1943 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED vSTATES PATENT ol-Fics by mesne assignments, to The Walk-A-Cha'ir Corporation, Washington, D. C., a corporation of .Delaware Application April '20, 1943Serial No. 483,813

7 claims. lc1.1155f22) This invention relates `to chairs and morev particularly to a wheeled chair by means of which invalids, partially disabled persons', convalescents, and others unable to walk,I may conveniently transport themselves 'from place to place.

The object of the invention is to provide an invalid chair of simple and durable construction capableof being quickly knocked down for transportation or shipment, and which may be propelled either by an attendant or by the feet of the occupant of the chair, or --by suitable manually operable propelling poles.

A further Aobject of the invention is to provide an invalid chair comprising ay wheeled frame having its rear end*v open and provided with a seat and its front end curved outwardly to form a bumper, means `being provided for adjusting the seat and sidebars of the frame vertically to accommodate persons of different sizes.

A further object' is to provide the opposite sides of the frame with detachable 4diagonally disposed members-which, when in position on the frame, serve the two-fold function. of reinforcing' side guard rods, and as hand rails to assist the invalid when lowering. or raising himself or herself onto or` off a toilet seat, and when removed from the frame and grasp-ed by the invalid, act as propelling lpoles for moving the chair from place to A place.

A further object is to provide the frame with a detachable foot rest for use by invali'ds unable to propel themselves, and which may be quickly removed to permit the feet of 'certain invalids to contactthefloor in the act of propelling the chair.

A still further object of the invention is`gen..

erally to impr-ove this class of devices. so as to increase their utility, durability and einciency, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

In the accompanyingl drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of "a portable wheeled invalid chair constructed-in accordance with the present' invention. p

Figure 2' isI a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--6 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a verticaly sectional view on the line l 5--5 of Figure I.

Figure 6 is' a transverse sectional View 'on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure' is a` detail perspective'view of the forward portion of theV frame showing the con-struction of the bumper' and. manner of" assembling the frame members'.v

The improved invalid chair forming the subiect matter of the present invention comprises a .trame open at itsrrear :end .and including a substantially rectangular .base '5 formed of Vspaced side bars 6 connected at their-forward ends by a transverse bar 1,` said ibase being provided-with wheels or'castors `8 preferably-equipped with rubber tires to `prevent- -i'njury to finished floors.v

adapted. to register with any one of the lopenings so as. to permit vertical adjustment-of `the side bars with relation to .the base 5 to laccommodate persons` of different sizes, said side vbars being detachably secured to the .side posts by bolts vl5 preferably provided with wing nuts, as shown. The rearward ends of the sidebars are extended longitudinally beyondv the adjacentside posts I0 to form handles i6 which maybe gripped by an attendant when moving an 'invalidfrom place to piace. A n The rear side posts` i0 are extended vertically above the side bars I4 to form extensions I 'l adapted to receive. and support a flexible backrest indicated at l8r. The backrest i8 is formed with terminal pockets i8", the lower ends of which are openandl adapted' to rest on shoulders i9 on the rear side posts I0 so as. to prevent displacement of the backrest.v rThe forward ends of the side bars |14 are rabbeted at 2U to receive the adjacent side posts 9, and connecting said sideposts at the rabbeted ends of the side bars by bolts 2|, is an upwardly bowed transversebar 22. It will here be noted that. the transverse bar 'l' is bowed outwardly to forma bumper 23 which serves to prevent; the body of the chair from coming in contact with a. wallor otherobstruction.

Mounted for swinging movement at the open end of the frame is a seat 24 having one `end thereof hinged at 25 toa block 26 detachablyv secured to one of the postsl and its other end f formed in the posts I to permit vertical adjustment of theseat 24, said seat being retained in adjusted position by bolts 3 I.

Mounted on the side bars 6 of the base is an adjustable foot rest 32, said foot rest being pro` vided with depending dowels 33 which t in openings 3A formed in the side bars so as to permit the foot rest to be adjusted longitudinally of the frame or to be entirely detached therefrom when desired. y

Y Disposed on each side of the frame are diagonally disposed guard rods 35 having their lower ends removably tted in sockets 36 formed in the side bars 6 and their upper ends removably tted in corresponding socketsk 31 formed in lateral enlargements 31' on the rearward side posts l0. Secured to the posts lll are spring clips 38 which serve to detachably hold the guard rods in position on the frame. These rods 35, when in posi-- tion on the frame, not only serve to brace the frame but also act as hand rails for an invalid when raising or lowering himself on or on to a toilet seat, and when said guard rods are detached, they act as propelling poles in order to enable the invalid to propel the chair from place to place. The lower ends of the guard rods may be provided with rubber tips 39 to present a good traction surface to the oor and also to prevent scratching or marring of the iioor. The rods 35 not only act as hand rails but also serve as side guards tov prevent an invalid from moving his legs througheither side of the frame with possible injury to his legs. It will thus be seen that the diagonal rodsA 35 perform a four-fold function, namely: first-as side braces for reinforcing the frame; second-as side guards; third-as hand rails; and, fourth-as propelling poles.

guard rods detachably mounted on opposite sides i of the frame between the side posts and having their upper ends disposed adjacent said seat and forming inclined hand rails, said guard rods when in position on the frame forming braces and when detached constituting propelling poles.

2. .An invalid chair comprising a wheeled base having sockets'therein, front and rear side posts extending vertically from the base, the upper portions of the rear posts being provided with sockets, longitudinal side bars adjustable vertically of the posts and detachably secured thereto, a transverse bar connecting the front ends of said side bars, a seat between the rear posts, and diagonally disposed guard rods having their lower ends detachablyv fitted within the sockets in the When a patient is sufciently strong to propel himself, the foot rest 32 is removed and the invalid, by sitting on the seat, may propel the chair with his feet. Should the legs or feet of the invalid be incapacitated, said invalidmay propel himself from place to place by snapping the guard rods out of the clips 38 and using said rods as propelling poles, as will be readily understood.

When it becomes necessary for the invalid to answer a` call of nature, the open end of the frame is positioned over a` toilet or commode and the seat 2li swung upwardly and in which posiltion the invalid may conveniently lower or raise himself on to or off the toilet seat by grasping the rods 35 and without danger of falling.

By reversing the position of the backrest I8, and positioning the invalid on the seat facing the open end of the frame, the invalid may be propelled up toa table so as to enable him to partake ofhis meals or refreshments when desired.

When the device is not in use, the component parts thereof may be readily detached and compactly stored for transportation or shipment.

It will, of course, be understood that the chairs may be made' in different sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit' of the invention.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: v v

l. An invalid chair comprising a frame open at its rear and including spaced side posts, -a transverse bar connecting the upper ends of the side posts at the front of the frame, longitudinal side bars secured to the posts, a seat hingedlyV connected with one of said side -posts and cooperating with the confronting side post, wheels mounted on the frame, and diagonally disposed base and their upperv ends disposed adjacent the seat and detachably engaging the adjacent sockets in the rear posts and forming inclined hand rails, said guard rods when-in position on Athe chair forming braces and when detached constituting propelling poles. p

3. An invalid chair comprising a wheeled base, side posts connected with the base, side bars vertically adjustable with respect to the posts and detachably secured thereto, a seat supported between two of said side posts, and diagonally disposed guard rods having their lower ends de- `tachably tted in sockets in-the base and their upper ends disposed radjacent the seat, clips secured to certain of the side posts and detachably receiving the upper ends of the guard rods, said guard rods when in. position on'the chair constituting combined braces and hand rails and when detached from the chair forming propelling poles.

4. An invalid chairv comprising a wheeled base having sockets formed therein, an adjustable foot restdetachably mounted on the base, spaced side posts secured to said base, longitudinal side bars connecting the upper ends of the side posts and adjustable vertically with respect thereto, the upper ends of certain of the side posts being projected above the adjacent side bars to form extensions dening stop shoulders, a flexible backrest provided with terminal pockets fitting over the extensions and bearing against the stop shoulders,

a seat disposed between two of the side posts, clips secured to 'certain of said side posts, Iand diago-` nally disposed guard rods having their lower ends detachably fitted in the sockets in the base and' their upper ends disposed adjacent the seat and detachably engaging the clips, said guard rods when in position on the chair constituting braces and when detached from the Ichair forming pro- 5. An invalid chair comprising a wheeled base having sockets therein, 'an outwardly bowed bumper secured to the base at the front thereof, spaced side posts carried by the base, longitudinal side bars adjustable vertically of the side posts and detachably secured thereto, the ends of said side bars constituting handles, certain of the side posts being provided with sockets and having their upper ends projected vertically. above the adjacent side bars to form extensions defining stop shoulders, a eXible backrest connecting said extensions and resting on the stop shoulders, a seat hingedly mounted between two of the side posts, and diagonally disposed guard rods having their lower ends detachably fitted in the sockets in the base and their upper ends disposed adjacent the seatand detachably engaging the sockets in the side posts, said guard rods .when detached from the chair forming propelling poles. j

6. An invalid chair comprising a wheeled base open at its rear end and provided with sockets, an outwardly curved transverse bar at the forward end of the base and forming a bumper, spaced side posts secured to the base, certain of said side posts being provided with lateral enlargements having sockets formed therein, longitudinal side bars adjustable vertically of the side posts and detachably secured thereto, a seat pivotally mounted between certain of the side.

posts, spring clips secured to said enlargements, and inclined guard rods having their lower ends fitted in the sockets in the base and their upper portions disposed adjacent the seat and detachably engaging the clips With their terminals in the sockets in the lateral enlargements, said guard rods when in position on the chair forming hand rails and when detached constituting pro pelling poles.

,7. An invalid chair comprising a wheeled frame open at its rear end and having front and rear posts at its sides and side bars carried by upper portions of the posts, the rear posts'and side portions of the frame being provided with upper and lower sockets respectively, a seat pivotally mount'- ed between the rear posts of the frame at 'the open rear end thereof, and a combined guard rod and inclinedhand rail extending diagonally of the frame at each side thereof land having their lower ends detachably tted in the lower sockets 

